Taxis bring traffic on active uMhlanga road to a standstill
To restore calm to the area, authorities agreed to temporarily allow taxis to park near Ocean Mall
Durban
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No identity document, no life
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SIU granted order to freeze KZN NLC official’s bank accounts
SIU granted order to freeze KZN NLC official’s bank accounts
The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) has been granted a preservation order by the Special Tribunal to freeze approximately R2.4 million held in four bank accounts linked to a KwaZulu-Natal National Lotteries Commission’s (NLC) official and his wife.
According to the SIU statement, the money was paid into the accounts by non-profit organisations that received funding from the NLC to improve the conditions of ordinary South Africans, but made its way into the bank accounts for self-enrichment.
“An investigation by the SIU into the affairs of the NLC revealed that [Sibonelo] Vilakazi approached daycare centres and football clubs in KZN to apply for grant funding. Immediately after receiving funding, football clubs and care centres would transfer large sums of money into 05 ZZET ENTERPRISES (PTY) LTD’s bank account and those linked to Zuma and Vilakazi.
“A report by the Financial Intelligence Centre states that 05 ZZET Enterprises received multiple electronic fund transfer payments from several care centres and football clubs of approximately R 32 259 707. SIU investigations show that more than 400 care centres and football clubs made payments to accounts linked to Vilakazi and Zuma from money received from the NLC between 2019 and 2023,” SIU spokesperson, Kaizer Kganyago said.
In terms of the order dated 13 September 2023, the suspended NLC official Sibonelo Vilakazi, his wife Nosipho Zanele Zuma and 05 ZZET ENTERPRISES (PTY) LTD, solely owned by Zuma, are prohibited from dealing in any manner with funds held in the frozen bank accounts.
“In August 2023, the Tribunal granted a similar order pending the intervention application by the SIU in a matter brought by Zuma against First National Bank (FNB) before the High Court of South Africa: Kwa-Zulu Natal Local Division, Durban, and the subsequent conclusion of the main application to be brought by the SIU in the Special Tribunal.
“The bank had frozen Zuma’s bank accounts through its own processes. The High Court granted the order in favour of Zuma [and] as a result, the SIU approached the Special Tribunal to vary the order so that it was not dependent on any other court process,” Kganyago said.
The SIU was, in terms of Proclamation R32 of 2020, authorised by President Cyril Ramaphosa to investigate allegations of corruption and maladministration in the affairs of NLC and the conduct of NLC officials and to recover any financial losses suffered by the State.
The SIU has been granted a preservation order to freeze approximately R2.4 million, pending the final determination of a civil action to be brought by the Unit within 60 days. – SAnews.gov.za
GabiK
Fri, 09/15/2023 - 11:57
264 views
Upcoming FEM Safetember Conference Shines the Spotlight on Workplace Health & Safety
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Dhlomo applauded for saving passenger’s life aboard flight
Dhlomo applauded for saving passenger’s life aboard flight
The Department of Health says it has received thankful messages from several flight passengers after a “heroic” act by Health Deputy Minister, Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo, who saved the life of a fellow passenger who experienced health complications aboard a flight.
The Deputy Minister was on a flight from Durban to Cape Town on Monday morning when a passenger alerted him to a female traveller who was in need of emergency medical assistance from anyone with a medical background.
“I was alerted by a passenger seated behind me in the plane that the cabin crew were asking for medical assistance to assist a passenger who was not well, and I had to quickly move from my seat to the seat next to the passenger and attended her,” Dhlomo said.
As a trained medical doctor, he said he first had to check the vital signs in order to detect any medical problems.
“Thanks to fellow passengers and the flight attendants who provided the medical kit and oxygen to enable me to stabilise the patient throughout the journey,” Dhlomo said.
When the pilots were talking about the possibility of diverting the flight, Dhlomo assured the crew that he could manage the situation until the scheduled destination.
He then handed over the patient to the paramedic team who had been waiting for the flight to land at Cape Town International Airport.
“This is in the nature of the Deputy Minister to contribute towards accelerating healthcare service delivery by regularly visiting health facilities and forensic pathology services around the country to lend his hand through performing post-mortems to enable the families to bury their loved ones on time,” the department said. – SAnews.gov.za
Gabisile
Tue, 09/12/2023 - 09:56
521 views
SA 1500m Champion, Nkosinathi Sibiya aims to boost his endurance at the Absa DASH YOUR CITY JOBURG 10K
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Three companies fined for contravention of export permit conditions
Three companies fined for contravention of export permit conditions
Three companies who attempted to export scrap metal and copper ingots without valid export permits have been fined in the Durban Regional Court.
Amalgamated Metal Recycling (Pty) Ltd, Cayo Largo Holdings (Pty) Ltd and Group Wreck International Non-Ferrous (Pty) Ltd entered a Section 105A plea and sentence agreement.
All three companies admitted the allegations and counts contained in their respective charge sheets, and to a contravention of section 54(1)(b) of the International Trade Administration (ITA) Act.
This is according to a statement by the International Trade Administration Commission of South Africa (ITAC), which is vested by the ITA Act with the authority to issue import and export permits.
Permits issued under such authority prescribe the kind, quantity, value and other attributes of goods that can be imported into or exported from South Africa.
Scrap metal and copper ingots are examples of products that are subject to permitting.
In a statement, ITAC said each of the three companies is a licensed metal recycling merchant that collects, sorts, processes, recycles and sells recycled metal.
“The sale of certain scrap metals, at the time of the contravention, was subject to ITAC export permit control and/or the Price Preference System (“PPS”) on the exportation of scrap metal, introduced in 2013 to promote the affordable supply of scrap metal to domestic steel and other metal makers, by requiring scrap dealers to first offer scrap to the domestic consuming industry at a prescribed discount to international prices, before it can be exported to other markets.
“If such recycled metal at that time could not be sold locally in terms of the PPS, a prospective seller (the accused) could apply to the ITAC for an export permit, allowing the export of the metal to foreign buyers.
“Furthermore, the exportation of copper and copper alloy ingots is subject to ITAC export control measures, mainly to ensure that stolen infrastructure is not smelted and exported,” it said.
The respective companies applied for the requisite permits for scrap metal and ingots, after having offered such scrap on the local market and after such offers were not taken up locally.
On obtaining the requisite export permits, the companies sourced a foreign buyer and sought to arrange the logistics and shipping of the scrap to give effect to the sale.
“The three companies admitted that, when the containers were entered into the customs export stacks for exportation, the export permits were no longer valid.
“All three companies admitted that they are guilty of contravening section 54(1)(a) and or (b), read with sections 1, 6(1)(c), 15, 26, 27, 55 and 56 of the ITA Act, as read with Government Notice R92 published in the Government Gazette 35007.
“Since the accused had failed to apply for new or revised permits at the time of export, the presiding officer Anand Maharaj found the respective entities guilty of contravention of the ITA Act,” said ITAC.
All three companies further admitted that they benefited from the proceeds of their crime and consented to three separate Section 18 orders issued in terms of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act, 121 of 1998 (POCA), said the commission.
According to ITAC, the following orders were made by the court:
- Amalgamated Metal Recycling (Pty) Ltd to pay R250 000 into the Criminal Assets Recovery Account established in terms of Section 63 of the POCA.
- Cayo Largo Holdings (Pty) Ltd to pay R250 000 into the Criminal Assets Recovery Account.
- Group Wreck International Non-Ferrous (Pty) Ltd to pay R1 000 000 into the Criminal Assets Recovery Account.
ITAC said it will continue to work with law enforcement agencies and the National Prosecution Authority to ensure that those involved in illegal exports and imports and permit abuse face the consequences of their actions. – SAnews.gov.za
Edwin
Mon, 09/11/2023 - 13:22
132 views
5 Reasons Every Small Business Owner Should Acquire a Mentor
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SA celebrates women in science, technology, innovation
SA celebrates women in science, technology, innovation
Higher Education, Science and Innovation Minister, Dr Blade Nzimande, says the South African Women in Science (SAWISA) Awards 2023 are premium awards to celebrate women who are contributing immensely to the Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) sector.
“The industrial revolutions are epochs in our social and economic history that are based on disruptions in innovations and technological developments, leading to advanced forms of production and service delivery,” Nzimande said.
Speaking at the SAWISA Awards 2023 event held in Durban on Friday, Nzimande said patriarchal attitudes, systematic barriers and certain practices and norms have defined women out of the research, scientific and technological developments that are engines of the industrial revolutions.
“We therefore have seen successive industrial revolutions having effects of disrupting or changing the lives of societies and economies,” Nzimande said.
Nzimande said with each industrial revolution, whole industries were adjusted or disrupted, new ones were created, and existing occupations and job families went through fundamental changes, with far reaching consequences for societies.
“Our (2019) White Paper on STI engages with the pivotal changes brought by the modern technology in promoting inclusivity, transformation, the development of human capabilities, knowledge expansion and innovation in ensuring that the benefits of the digital economy are enjoyed by all South Africans.
“The measures aimed at greater gender inclusion in our recently approved STI Decadal Plan (2022-2032), our ten-year plan, include the STI Transformation Framework, and the STI Gender Strategy that is aligned to the government-wide gender responsive planning and budgeting framework,” the Minister said.
This year’s glittering awards were attended by among others, members of Parliament, students and international guests.
SAWISA is an annual countrywide event profiling distinguished women researchers and scientists, as well as younger women who are emerging as excellent researchers.
The awards also provide registered Masters and PhD students with fellowships to support their studies, in areas ranging from indigenous knowledge systems to astronomy.
Harnessing technological change and innovation
University of Witwatersrand Chancellor, Dr Judy Dlamini, congratulated the Department of Higher Education, Science and Innovation for introducing the awards 20 years ago.
“Harnessing technological change and innovation, starts with ensuring access in the remote areas of our country, it’s about ensuring affordability by the most vulnerable, providing quality education with digital access in all our schools especially the township and rural schools, addressing inherent biases and social-cultural norms that are a hindrances to women and girls’ access,” Dlamini said.
Dlamini said the gender digital divide that still exists, especially for black rural women, has to be addressed.
“Women are under-represented in the ICT jobs, men are four times more likely than women to be ICT specialists,” she said.
Running since 2003, SAWISA also awards registered Masters and PhD students.
The theme for this year’s awards was, “Harnessing technological change and innovation to achieve gender equality and empower women and girls”.
Award categories
In honour of the late climate-change activist and science champion, the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) called the fellowships the DSI-Ndoni Mcunu Fellowships.
Mcunu was the founder of Black Women in Science (BWIS).
The late Mcunu facilitated developmental training for more than 400 postgraduate students in business and entrepreneurship skills, research skills, scientific writing, project leadership, science communication and research career preparation.
During her life-time, Mcunu achieved numerous accolades, including being named a 2017 Mandela Washington Fellow, receiving an honorary awards at the KZN Young Achievers Awards in the Science Research and Entrepreneurship catergory and winning the Gagasi FM Shero Award in the Science and Technology catergory.
In the catergory of DSI-Ndoni Mcunu Fellowships: Masters’ Awards, the finalists were Nyleti Precious Mabaso from Stellenbosch University, Modjadi Rebecca Letsoalo from the University of Venda and Gizelle Roque van Niekerk from the University of Pretoria.
In the catergory of DSI-Ndoni Mcunu Fellowships: Doctoral Awards, the finalists were Munira Hoosain, University of Cape Town, Alletta Nortjie, Stellenbosch University, Boitumelo Makgabutlane, University of the Witwatersrand, Thendo Gertie Makhado, University of Venda, Bambesiwe Mbesi May, University of South Africa, Carlo Dodd, Nelson Mandela University, Lusani Mamushiane, University of Cape Town, Bettie Sebati, University of Johannesburg and Nicole Richardson from the University of Cape Town.
Other categories include awards for Distinguished Young Women Researchers and Distinguished Woman Researchers. – SAnews.gov.za
Edwin
Sat, 09/09/2023 - 10:36
62 views
Grant recipients forced to produce loans because of “payment glitch”
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